This study demonstrated the use of surfactants and cosurfactants in formulating reverse micellar microemulsion biofuels of palm oil/diesel fuel and ethanol blends.
The effects of surfactant structure and the chain length of cosurfactants on the phase behavior, microemulsion-droplet size and kinematic viscosity of microemulsion-based biofuels have been investigated
In general,the kinematic viscosities of surfactant and cosurfactant systems decreased as temperature increased
The surfactants had greater effect on kinematic viscosity than did cosurfactants, even though present at lower concentrations.
Moreover, the microemulsion solutions increased in viscosity as the cosurfactant chain leng thin creased but this also reduced the droplet size of the microemulsion
Thus, this study demonstrates that there are a number of factors affecting the phase behavior, droplet size, and viscosity of microemulsion-based biofuel.